5 questions for Highland Park historic preservationist Charlie Fisher

Charlie Fisher has watched Northeast L.A. change around him over his lifetime. He grew up in Mt. Washington and has lived in Highland Park for more than two decades. While the evolution of neighborhoods is a large part of what he loves about Los Angeles, Fisher has been disturbed by the demolition of some of the city’s old and beautiful buildings and residences. As a kid, Fisher remembers watching as the historic homes of Bunker Hill were torn down, one by one. It is that event which propelled Fisher into the life and business of preserving local heritage and history. The now 60 year-old Fisher has since made it his life’s work to ensure that Los Angeles’ heritage is remembered through its buildings – highlighting not only the people and characters who built them, but those who lived in them as well.

How would you describe historic preservation? Historic preservation is essentially guarding our history. And the history of the built environment is every bit as important. As preservationists we dig up stuff and sometimes you find that the myth [surrounding a building’s history] that has been out there for so many years just isn’t the case. We have to determine whether we’re dealing with the truth or with a myth.

How do you reconcile historic preservation with progress? Progress is interesting because sometimes we think it’s a great step backwards. I mean to tear down an architectural specimen and put up a piece of crap is not going forward. We had a lot of that in Highland Park in the ‘80s. And the big thing was, we were losing our heritage.

What are your feelings on the gentrification of Highland Park? I don’t really consider it gentrification as much as people moving into the area. We had a lot of old-timers that were still living in the area at the time we bought our house, many of them have unfortunately passed on. There was a link to the pre-war period that existed then. And the area underwent some challenges … It’s an evolution.

What’s your favorite Eastside building or structure? There are so many cool buildings. If I was going to pick a Victorian, I would probably pick The Hale House at Heritage Square. I’ve written several nominations on Modernist homes, a couple of Schindlers, including one in Silver Lake which nobody knew about. It’s on Maltman, a house he designed in slab-cast in 1922.

Which people most commonly seek historic cultural monument status? Most of my clients are the property owners. They seek it because they want to preserve what they have but they also want a Mills Act [tax credit]. And the Mills Act is probably, in California, one of the best things to happen to preservation. Any historic property can fall under a Mills Act. You get a tax savings based on the restoration work you put into the property.

Five Questions poses the questions you’ve always wanted to ask. Want to know more about people in your neighborhood? Send suggestions to [email protected]

Marni Epstein Epstein is an entertainment, music, and lifestyle Journalist and resident of Echo Park. She has previously worked in the film and digital media industries with FOX and Sony Pictures Entertainment. She is currently also pursuing a Masters in Historic Preservation.

6 comments

Charlie Fisher is a hero in Los Angeles for all of the historic buildings he has documented and nominated for historic status. Yet unfortunately at our City Council if a real estate developer or his representative cross the palm of the local Councilmember with campaign contributions, we can lose things like the unquestionably historic and significant 1960’s Googie style Shopper’s Market. Fisher was defamed by letters from the attorneys for the owner of Shopper’s Market who was working with Superior Market to trash the historic front of that store in order to install some kind of generic, boring faux Craftman crap.

The local Councilmember not only sat by silently but gave public credence to the lies about the historic significance of the building and Mr. Fisher. I was ashamed at how the Councilmember claimed he was “listening” to the community, when in fact he was dividing our community based upon race — he proclaimed that “brown” shoppers Superior whipped up with $100 gift cards and a bus to City Hall to the hearing were more credible than the preservation community who brought experts on this type of architecture. The implicit message from the Councilmember in my opinion was: Our office will not listen to or support groups we perceive to be “too white.” As a Latina, I was offended by that.

Meanwhile, the Councilmember lets Superior park its shopping carts over the top of what looks like handicapped parking for its store. Why isn’t the Councilmember demanding enforcement of the law against Superior?

Charles Fisher is my mentor in many ways for what I know about historic preservation in Los Angeles and specifically Garvanza and Highland Park. Charlie is a community gem and I am indebted to his untiring service to this city. Highland Park and Garvanza owe him so much for all that he has done to save the heritage of our neighborhoods. The Highland Park Heritage Trust is an organization that he is one of the founding members of and it is a 501c3. Check our their website or facebook page at www,HPHT.org or check out Facebook at Highland Park Heritage Trust. Thank-you Charlie Fisher for all you do and for introducing me to one of my greatest passions. Garvanza thanks you and I will always be indebted to you for walking over 800 parcels with me over several weeks to push our community forward for the HPOZ. We are all so lucky to have such dedication and commitment in this community. Bravo.

Charles Fisher is my mentor in many ways for what I know about historic preservation in Los Angeles and specifically Garvanza and Highland Park. Charlie is a community gem and I am indebted to his untiring service to this city. Highland Park and Garvanza owe him so much for all that he has done to save the heritage of our neighborhoods. The Highland Park Heritage Trust is an organization that he is one of the founding members of and it is a 501c3. Check our their website or facebook page at http://www.HPHT.org or check out Facebook at Highland Park Heritage Trust. Thank-you Charlie Fisher for all you do and for introducing me to one of my greatest passions. Garvanza thanks you and I will always be indebted to you for walking over 800 parcels with me over several weeks to push our community forward for the HPOZ. We are all so lucky to have such dedication and commitment in this community. Bravo.

I like Charlie Fisher – the segment he did on KCET’s Departures was a great jumping off point to dig through digital archives and old newspaper stories about the NELA area.

I was, however, pretty bummed when he lined up with Tom Topping to oppose any traffic calming/bike lanes on N. Figueroa Street. It is okay to disagree on stuff like this and still appreciate the work the other person does. Mr. Fisher even went so far as to create a costly “alternative” bike route that really only works if you want to avoid all the local shops in the area.

He is still a great asset to this community. We’ll have to agree to disagree about bike lanes and traffic calming on Figueroa.

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